Kentucky 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Kentucky's 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Nov 14-29, 2026.
Archery deer season runs Sep 5, 2026-Jan 18, 2027.
Fall turkey season runs Sep 5, 2026-Jan 18, 2027.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Kentucky KDFWR.
- firearm deer
- Nov 14-29, 2026
- archery deer
- Sep 5, 2026-Jan 18, 2027
- fall turkey
- Sep 5, 2026-Jan 18, 2027
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Key seasons by species
How to read Kentucky's seasons
Zone details do most of the work
Kentucky's big seasons are easy to recognize, but zone and weapon rules decide what a hunter can actually do on a given weekend. Read the deer, turkey, and elk rows with the official zone map open.
The agency planner remains the final source for quota hunts, permit deadlines, and county-level exceptions.
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Kentucky KDFWR before hunting.
New 2026-27
federal openings
in Kentucky
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened or expanded hunting and fishing access at 1 station in Kentucky. The final rule took effect August 31, 2026.
Deer
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Youth/Senior Crossbow
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Crossbow
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Modern Firearms
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader Late
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Free Youth Weekend
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
CWD Zone Antlerless Season
Zone: CWD Zone
White-tailed Deer
Youth-only Firearms
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader Early
Zone: Statewide
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery
Fall Turkey Archery
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Fall Crossbow Segment 2
Fall Turkey Crossbow
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Fall Shotgun Segment 2
Fall Turkey Shotgun
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Fall Crossbow Segment 1
Fall Turkey Crossbow
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Fall Shotgun Segment 1
Fall Turkey Shotgun
Zone: Statewide
Bear
Black Bear
Hunt with Dogs Segment 2
Zone: Zone 2
Black Bear
Firearms
Zone: Zone 2
Black Bear
Firearms
Zone: Zone 1
Black Bear
Chase-Only Segment 1
Chase-only
Zone: Zones 1, 2, 3
Black Bear
Chase-Only Segment 2
Chase-only
Zone: Zones 1, 2, 3
Black Bear
Archery/Crossbow Segment 1
Zone: Zone 3
Black Bear
Hunt with Dogs
Zone: Zone 1
Black Bear
Hunt with Dogs Segment 1
Zone: Zone 2
Black Bear
Archery/Crossbow
Zone: Zone 2
Black Bear
Archery/Crossbow
Zone: Zone 1
Black Bear
Archery/Crossbow Segment 2
Zone: Zone 3
Elk
Elk
Quota Firearms Cow Antlerless Week 1
Quota season, cow (antlerless)
Zone: Statewide
Elk
Quota Archery/Crossbow Either Sex Segment 2
Quota season, either sex
Zone: Statewide
Elk
Quota Firearms Cow Antlerless Week 2
Quota season, cow (antlerless)
Zone: Statewide
Elk
Youth-only Quota Either Sex
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Youth-only quota, either sex, all seasons as noted above
Zone: Statewide
Elk
Quota Archery/Crossbow Either Sex Segment 1
Quota season, either sex
Zone: Statewide
Elk
Quota Firearms Bull Antlered Week 1
Quota season, bull (antlered)
Zone: Statewide
Elk
Quota Firearms Bull Antlered Week 2
Quota season, bull (antlered)
Zone: Statewide
Waterfowl
28 listed rowsDuck, Coot & Merganser
Youth-only Days
Youth-only waterfowl day
Zone: Statewide
Duck, Goose, Coot, Merganser
Youth-Only Waterfowl
Youth must not have reached their 16th birthday on the day of the hunt. Adults may accompany but may not harvest ducks and geese on this day. Adults may harvest geese but not ducks during the February youth day. Federal Duck Stamp and HIP not required for youth participants.
Zone: Statewide
Duck, Coot & Merganser
Military/Veteran-only Days
Military/Veteran-only waterfowl day
Zone: Statewide
Duck, Goose, Coot, Merganser
Military/Veteran-Only Waterfowl
Non-veterans may accompany veteran hunters but may not harvest ducks and geese on this day. Non-veterans may harvest geese but not ducks during the February veteran day. Proper licenses, HIP and Federal Duck Stamp required.
Zone: Statewide
Canada/Cackling Goose, White-fronted Goose & Brant
Regular Season
If a brant is harvested, reduce daily bag limit of either Canada geese or greater white-fronted geese so that no more than 5 total dark geese are taken in a day.
Zone: Statewide
Canada/Cackling Goose, White-Fronted Goose, Brant & Snow Goose (including Ross' Goose)
Hunting
Zone: Statewide
Coot
Regular Season
Season is same as ducks.
Zone: Statewide
Duck
Thanksgiving Segment
Scaup limit is 1 Nov. 26–29.
Zone: Statewide
Duck, Coot & Merganser
Falconry
Falconry ducks, coots & mergansers
Zone: Statewide
Duck, Coot & Merganser
Hunting Segment 1
Zone: Statewide
Duck, Coot, Merganser
Falconry
Pit and blind restrictions at some WMAs do not apply to falconers hunting waterfowl during periods when gun and archery waterfowl seasons are not open.
Zone: Statewide
Geese
Falconry
Falconry geese
Zone: Statewide
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Canada GooseSeptember Canada Goose · Western Zone | Closed | |
| Canada GooseSeptember Season · Western ZoneCave Run Lake closed. West Kentucky WMA closed. Ballard Zone: private lands open, public lands closed. | Closed | |
| Canada GooseSeptember Season · Eastern ZoneCave Run Lake closed. West Kentucky WMA closed. | Closed | |
| Canada GooseSeptember Canada Goose · Eastern Zone | Closed | |
| DuckSecond Segment · Statewide | Upcoming | |
| Duck, Coot & MerganserHunting Segment 2 · Statewide | Upcoming | |
| Duck, Coot & MerganserYouth-only Days · StatewideYouth-only waterfowl day | Upcoming | |
| Duck, Coot & MerganserMilitary/Veteran-only Days · StatewideMilitary/Veteran-only waterfowl day | Upcoming | |
| Duck, Goose, Coot, MerganserYouth-Only Waterfowl · StatewideYouth must not have reached their 16th birthday on the day of the hunt. Adults may accompany but may not harvest ducks and geese on this day; adults may harvest geese but not ducks. Federal Duck Stamp and HIP not required for youth participants. | Upcoming | |
| Duck, Goose, Coot, MerganserMilitary/Veteran-Only Waterfowl · StatewideNon-veterans may accompany veteran hunters but may not harvest ducks and geese on this day; non-veterans may harvest geese but not ducks. Proper licenses, HIP and Federal Duck Stamp required. | Upcoming | |
| Light GooseConservation Order · StatewideLight Goose Conservation Order | Upcoming | |
| MerganserRegular Season · StatewideSeason is same as ducks. | Upcoming | |
| Snow Goose (including Ross's Goose)Regular Season · Statewide | Upcoming | |
| Snow Goose (including Ross's Goose)Light Goose Conservation Order · StatewideMandatory FREE permit required. Electronic callers allowed. Unplugged guns allowed. Shooting hours: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Pit and blind restrictions at WMAs do not apply during Conservation Order season. Everyone who obtains the Snow Goose Permit must report hunting activity to the Snow Geese Conservation Order Survey by April 10. | Upcoming | |
| Teal & Wood DuckHunting · Statewide | Closed | |
| Teal & Wood DuckEarly Season · Statewide | Closed |
Dove
Mourning Dove & White-winged Dove
Hunting Segment 2
Zone: Statewide
Mourning Dove & White-winged Dove
Hunting Segment 3
Zone: Statewide
Mourning Dove & White-winged Dove
Hunting Segment 1
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Pheasant
Quota Hunt
3rd Fri. in Nov. for 3 consecutive days
Zone: Green River WMA
Pheasant
Quota Hunt
1st Fri. in Dec. for 3 consecutive days
Zone: Yellowbank WMA
Pheasant
Quota Hunt
1st Fri. in Dec. for 3 consecutive days
Zone: Clay WMA
Quail
Quail
Hunting Segment 1
No trapping
Zone: Eastern Zone
Quail
Hunting Segment 2
No trapping
Zone: Eastern Zone
Quail
Hunting
No trapping
Zone: Western Zone
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
Hunting Segment 1
Zone: Grouse Zone only
Ruffed Grouse
Hunting Segment 2
Zone: Grouse Zone only
Rabbit
Rabbit
Hunting Segment 1
Zone: Eastern Zone
Rabbit
Trapping
Zone: Western Zone
Rabbit
Trapping
Zone: Eastern Zone
Rabbit
Hunting Segment 2
Zone: Eastern Zone
Rabbit
Hunting
Zone: Western Zone
Squirrel
Squirrel
Hunting Segment 1
Zone: Statewide
Squirrel
Hunting Segment 2
Zone: Statewide
Squirrel
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Furbearer
Raccoon & Opossum
Hunting
Day or night (exceptions apply)
Zone: Statewide
Bobcat
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Furbearers
Trapping - Water Sets
Water sets
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon & Opossum
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
River Otter, Muskrat, Mink, Beaver, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Weasel & Striped Skunk
Hunting
Daylight hours only
Zone: Statewide
River Otter, Muskrat, Mink, Beaver, Red Fox, Gray Fox, Weasel & Striped Skunk
Trapping
Zone: Statewide
Bobcat
Hunting
Daylight hours only
Zone: Statewide
Furbearers
Free Youth Hunting & Trapping Week
Zone: Statewide
Small Game
Small Game
Falconry
Zone: Statewide
Small Game
Free Youth Hunting & Trapping Week
Zone: Statewide
Migratory Birds
American Woodcock
Hunting Segment 1
Zone: Statewide
Crow
Hunting Segment 1
Zone: Statewide
Purple & Common Gallinule
Hunting
Zone: Statewide
Virginia Rail & Sora Rail
Hunting
Zone: Statewide
American Woodcock
Hunting Segment 2
Zone: Statewide
Snipe
Hunting Segment 2
Zone: Statewide
Sandhill Crane
Regular Season
Permit required; available only through quota hunt drawing in September (apply Sept. 1–Sept. 30). Daily bag limit is 2 cranes per permit holder with 2 or more tags, or 1 crane for hunters with one tag. Hunters must pass an online identification exam before receiving permit. Must telecheck harvested birds on the day taken. Post-season survey required no later than 14 days after close of season. Shooting hours: sunrise to sunset. Nontoxic shot required.
Zone: Statewide
Sandhill Crane
Hunting
Zone: Statewide
Crow
Hunting Segment 2
Zone: Statewide
Snipe
Hunting Segment 1
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Coyote
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Day or night; exceptions apply
Zone: Statewide
Other
Bullfrog
Hunting
Opens at noon May 16, closes midnight Oct. 31, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Groundhog
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round
Zone: Statewide
Turtles
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round, day or night
Zone: Statewide
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Kentucky Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Kentucky?
Archery deer season runs Sep 5, 2026-Jan 18, 2027. Firearm deer season runs Nov 14-29, 2026. Dates can differ by zone and permit; confirm with Kentucky KDFWR.
When is Kentucky's firearm deer season?
Firearm deer season runs Nov 14-29, 2026. Check zone and permit details with Kentucky KDFWR before hunting.
Do I need a license to hunt in Kentucky?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Kentucky hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Kentucky KDFWR.
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